Folding furniture



G. H. STINE.

FOLDING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 13. 1919. :lig l l 3 Patented Allg. 24, 192@ G. R. STINE.

FOLDING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I3, 1919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.,

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GEORGE B. STINE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFOBNIA.

FOLDING- FURNITURE.

Specncation of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed ctober 13, 1919. Serial No. 330,443.

picnic. outings, camping, pleasure resorts and the like, which is simple and substantial in construction, cheap to manufacture, and which is so designed that the table and seats may be quickly folded into a compact unit for shipment or storage and just as readily extended, when required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for rigidly bracing the table and the seats when unfolded and for locking the same against folding movement.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists 'of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 isa perspective view ofthe table.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation. j

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the tablewhen folded.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the table. I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts in folded position.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing the recess on the cross-bar for locking the crossbar, the supporting legs and the hangers respectively.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates in general a table top consisting of two sections 2 and 3. These sections are centrally connected at each end by hinges such as shown at 4 and 5. Hingedly connected to each corner of the table top, as at 6', are four hangers, two on each side of the table top, and pivotally mounted between the lower ends of each pair of hangers is a seat 7 which may be swung upwardly in the direction of arrow a (see Fig. 2), to assume a position parallel with the hangers 6. Pivotally secured to the upper ends of the hangers,` as at 8, are leg members 9, and secured on the lower end of each hanger 6 is a stop lug 10 'which limits the swinging movement of the legs 9, as will hereinafter be described.

Formed on each leg 9 at a point near the lower ends of the hangers are outwardly projecting shoulders 11, and adapted to be supported by said shoulders are cross bars 12. These cross bars serve three functions; rst, that of supporting the seat sections 7 when they are unfolded, as shown in Fig. 2;

second, that of locking the legs 9 against movement about their pivots 8; third, that of braclng the table and the seats against lateral movement when the parts are un` folded. They also serve another function, to-wit, that of receiving and supporting the lower ends of a pair of longitudinally eX- tending brace bars indicated at 14 and 15. The outer ends of the cross bars 12 are dovetailed, as shown at 16, to partly straddle the lower ends of the hangers and the legs 9. They thereby lock the legs and the hangers against spreading or against swinging about the hinge connections shown at 6, whether it be in an inward or outward direction. The longitudinally extending braces shown at 14 and 15 are pivotally connected, as at 17, and their outer ends are notched or off-set, as shown at 18, the lower ends engaging the cross bars 12, while the upper ends engage end strips 19 disposed at each end of the table. The table, when extended, is thereby rigidly braced against lateral and longitudinal strains by means of the cross bars 12 and the longitudinally extending bars 14 and 15.

Tn operation, when the table is extended, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, if it is desired to fold the same into a compact unit, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it is only necessary to remove the longitudinal braces 14 and 15 and the cross bars 12. This permits the seats 7 to be swung upwardlyin the direction of arrow a to assume a position parallel with the hangers. The legs 9 may then be swung about their pivotal connections 8 to 'assume positions parallel with the table top sections. Tt is then possible to fold the hangers containing the seats and the legs in under their respective table top sections about the hinges 6 and then to fold the table top sections together about their hinges 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 3. compact, flat bundle 1s in d this manner obtained, wh-ich may be bundle, as shown 1n Fig. 5, and may be'tied thereto by straps, ropes or the like, to prevent loss during transportation or shipment.

In erecting the table, when in a folded position, it is preferable to place the table 'on end, then to extend the legs and the top, then the seats, and` insert the crossbars 12 which braces the legs an'd the table as a whole against lateral movement, and finally the longitudinally extending braces Hand 15; the swinging movement of the legs from a position parallelwith the table top sections to the vertical position being limited by the stop members 10 secured onthe lower ends of the hangers. v

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided a combination table 'and seats which is simple and compact in construction, cheap to manufacture, and

' the design and proportions may be resorted which presents a compact unit for shipment, storage or transportation. Further, a table and seats which are so simply constructed and arranged that anyone may readily eX- tend or fold the same whenever required.

While certainfeatures ofthepresentinvention are more or less specific in construction, I wish it understood that various changes in tions, a seat section pivotally mounted between each pair of hangers, and legs supporting the table top sections and the seats; said legs being pivotally attached to the upper ends of the hangers and adapted to be swunginto parallelism with the table top.

'2. combination folding table and seats comprising a pair of table top sections hingedly connected, a pair of hangers hingedly secured to each'table top section and foldablev with relation to'their respective sections,

- a seat section pivotally mounted between each pair of hangers, legs supporting the table top sections andthe seats, cross bars connecting the legs and bracing the tableand seats against lateral movement, and 1ongitudinal extending diagonally disposed bracing bars engaging the table top SGCOQS andthe cross bars to brace the table and seats against longitudinal movement.

3. A combination folding table and seats comprising a pair of table top sections, a pair of hinges disposed one at each end of said sections and centrally connecting the same,

a pairv of hangers hingedly'secured to each table top sectlon and disposed at each end thereof, said hangers being foldable in under `the table top sections, a seat pivotally mounted betweeneach pair of hangers, and a leg pivotally attached at its upper end to each hanger. Y

4. A combination folding table and seats comprising a pair of table top sections, a pair of hinges disposed one at eachend of said sections and centrally connecting the same, a pair of hangers hingedly secured to each table top section and disposed at each end thereof, said hangers being foldable in under the table top sections, a seat pivotally mounted between' 'each pair of hangers, a leg pivotally attached fat its upper end to each hanger, a stop member on each hanger, limiting the pivotal-movement of the legs in one direction, and other means for locking the legs against pivotal movement in the `opposite direction'.

5. A combination folding table and seats comprising a pair of table top sections, a pair of hingesdisposed one at each end of said table top sections h ingedlyP connecting the same, a pair of `hangers hingedly se-.

legs against movement and serving as sup-v ports for the seats.

6. A combination folding table and seats comprising a pair oftable top sections, a pair of hinges disposed one at each end of said table top sections hingedly connecting the same, a pair of hangers hingedly secured A to the outeredge of each table top section and at the ends thereof, said hangers being foldable in under their respective table top sections, a seat member pivotally secured between the lower ends Aof each pair of hangers, a leg member pivotally :attached to the upper end of each hanger and adapted -to swing into alinement either ,with the hangers or with the table top sections, a,

stop member on the lower end of each hanger, adapted to limit the swinging movement of each leg, a projecting shoulder on each leg, a pair of cross bars, one for each pair of legs, adapted to be supported on the shoulders, said cross bars securing the legs against pivotal movement-and lserving the same, a pair oi hangers hingedly secured to theouter edge of each table top section and at the ends thereof, said hangers being foldable in under their respective v table top sections, a seat member pivotally secured between the lower ends of each pair of hangers, a leg member pivotally attached to the upper end of each hanger and adapted to swing into alinement either with the hangers or with the table top sections, a stop member on the lower end of each hanger, adapted to limit the swinging movement of each leg, a projecting shoulder on each leg, a'pair of cross bars, one for each pair of legs, adapted to be supported y on the shoulders, said cross bars securing the legs against pivotal movement and serving as additional supports for the seats, and a pair of longitudinally extending brace bars, said brace bars being engageable with the cross bars at their lower ends and with the table top sections at their upper ends.

8. A combination folding table and seats Acomprising a pair of table topsections, a

pair of hinges disposed oneat each end of said table top sections hingedly connecting the same, a pair of hangers hingedly secured to' the' outer edge of eachtable top section and at the ends thereof, said hangers being foldable in under their respective table top sections, a seat member pivotally secured between the lower ends of each pair of hangers, a leg member pivotally attached to the uper end of each hanger and adaptfed vto swing into alinement eitherL with the hangers or with the table top sections, a stop member on the lower `end of each hanger, adapted to limit the swinging movement of each leg, a projecting shoulder on each leg, a pair of cross bars, one for eachpair of legs, adapted to be supported on the shoulders, said cross bars securing the legs against pivotal movement'and serving as additional supports for the seats, and a pair of longitudinally extending v brace bars, said brace bars being engageable with the crossb'ars at their lower ends and with the table top sections at their upper ends, said longitudinally extending brace bars securing the cross bars upon the shelf-like projections formed on thelegs and bracing the table and seats against longitudinal movement. f y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l

GEO. R. STINE. Witnesses.

C. C. GRIPPEN, W. C.v WATSON.. 

